Heart Health News

FDA Warns of Sunscreen Spray's Flammability Risk

SUNDAY, July 21 (HealthDay News) -- Certain sunscreen sprays
worn close to an open flame may pose a risk of catching fire, the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns.

The agency said it knows of five incidents in which people
wearing sunscreen spray near sources of flame suffered significant
burns that required medical treatment. The products involved in
these incidents were recalled and should no longer be on store
shelves.

However, many other sunscreen spray products contain flammable
ingredients, commonly alcohol. The same is true for some other
spray products -- including insect repellants and hairsprays -- and
even some non-spray sunscreens, the FDA said.

"Based on this information, we recommend that after you have applied a sunscreen spray labeled as flammable, you consider avoiding being near an open flame, sparks or an ignition source," Dr. Narayan Nair, a lead medical officer at the FDA, said in an agency news release.

Many flammable products have a label warning against their use
near an open flame. Never apply a product labeled as flammable when
you are near a source of flame.

However, the five incidents reported to the FDA occurred after
the sunscreen spray had been applied. The sources of flame included
lighting a cigarette, standing too close to a lit citronella
candle, approaching a barbecue grill and doing welding.

These incidents indicate that catching fire is possible even if
you believe you have waited long enough for the sunscreen to dry
and your skin feels dry, the FDA said.

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.